Foreword
Having read Rhiannon’s blog about her daily life, myself and a few friends have agreed to write our own blogs and share our stories.
The UK has entered its third lockdown since the coronavirus pandemic. The first lockdown had a sense of urgency, the feeling of ‘doing your part’ by staying inside was a great motivator. In a similar fashion, the second lockdown in November was a comfortable one to handle; the anticipation of Christmas and the New Year kept spirits high.
However, I feel the new lockdown we see ourselves in currently has no motivator to keep spirits high. Cases are rising and record numbers of people in the UK are testing positive for coronavirus. Hospital admissions have reached levels not seen since the first wave last spring, and the admissions stemming from Christmas and New Year mixing are yet to come.
In this crucial six week period, we are in a race against time to vaccinate our most vulnerable before they come in contact with the new more infectious variant of coronavirus. There is hope, but as of now I feel it is only a glimmer of hope and time will tell in the coming weeks if luck favours our side.
It is easy to tumble down the rabbit hole of negative news, there is so much of it now. However, it is just as easy to take note of the good things.
This blog will serve as a way for me to reflect on my daily events, and I have a feeling that once I get going it will be a regular thing that I enjoy.
Today's events
Today was the hump day of my first week back at work since the Christmas break. It mostly consisted of continuing the work I’ve started and picking up the pieces I left for myself. I find it easier to end the day with a half-finished task so that I know that when I resume work the next day, I already know what I need to do to complete it. It gets me in the zone quicker than trying to start a new task, especially first thing in the morning!
Today also brought about the return of my Chinese lessons which I take part in through my job. We recapped:
- Christmas and the New Year (xīn nián kuài lè!)
- Comparison words (A is beautiful, B is more beautiful)
- Names such as teacher, colleague, doctor, classmate, sir, and madam
- Places such as train station, hospital, school, shop, and supermarket
I’m not usually one to make New Year resolutions, but this year I will try and attend more weekly lessons to improve my Chinese.
The rest of my workday was pretty uneventful, the usual bug-finding and simulating of code whilst listening to another episode of the Total Saints Podcast.
After work I went for a run, my usual route around the block, and ordered my sister a new pair of running earphones as a late Christmas present before she moves to Bracknell this weekend to start her new job at a coronavirus testing laboratory.
Lastly, I prepared my five questions for a collaborative quiz my friends have organised this evening which should be fun. It will be nice to see their faces again, albeit through a screen.